Thomas edgar adams



(No Model.)

T. E. ADAMS.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

No. 594,585. Patented N0v=80,1897.

IHiigesszs UNITED STATES Parana @rricn.

THOMAS EDGAR ADAMS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ELEGT llC=AIiG LAM SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 4, 8 dated NOV I' 1 7 Application filed January 21, 1897. Serial No. 620,105. (No model.)

To aZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS EDGAR ADAMS, a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Carbon- Guides for Electric-Arc Lamps; and I do hereby declare thefollowin g to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in electric-arc lamps, and more particularly to electrode-guides therefor In focusing electric'arc lamps it has been the common practice to feed the lower or negative carbon upwardly through a guide-ring intended to support said carbon in proper alinement with the upper or positive carbon. Molded carbons frequently have a slight ridge or fin on one or both sides, and sometimes the carbons are not round in cross-section throughout their entire length. From these and other causes the carbons fail to pass freely through an annular guide, such as heretofore used, and thus result in injuriously affecting the light or causing it to become eX- tinguished. \Vhen copper-coated carbons are used, another serious difficulty arises from drops of molten copper falling upon the guide ring and resulting either in soldering the guide to the plating of the carbon and thus stopping the movement of the latter or forming a wedge as the drops of molten copper fall on the guide-ring and chill and in this manner prevent the feed of the carbon, or the molten metal may cool and collect on the ring-guide and form a perch upon which carbon dust may accumulate until the movement of the carbon will be retarded or stopped.

It is the object of my invention to obviate these very serious and troublesome defects heretofore encountered with lower-carbon guides; and with this end in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View illustrating one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the carbon and lamp-arm in section. Figs. 3 and e are views showing modifications.

A represents a portion of the depending arm of an electric-arc lamp; B, the lower carbon, and O my improved guide. The guide consists of a piece of thin steel or iron bent to receive the carbon l3 and permit the free passage thereof.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. l the guide is made with an integral hookshaped extension a, by which it can be securely fastened to the lampar1n A with a screw Z; or other suitable fastening device.

The body of the guide 13 may be made to completely encircle the carbon rod, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2; but it maybe found preferable to so construct it as to practicallysurround the carbon, as shown in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 2, so as to permit it to be bent to accommodate different-sized carbons. In either case the guide is so constructed as to leave a space of about oneeighth of an inch between the body portion thereof and the carbon, the latter being properly guided by a series of fingers or teeth 0, projecting upwardly and inwardly from the upper edge of the body portion of the guide. These teeth exert comparatively slight pres sure on the carbon and therefore do not retard nor in any manner affect the free upward movement of the carbon; but they bear against the carbon with sufficient pressure to insure the proper alinement of the lower carbon with the upper carbon and thus re duce lateral displacement of the former to a minimum.

The guide is preferably made with an odd number of teeth or lingers 0, so as to permit carbons having ridges or fins or carbons which are not quite round in cross-section to pass freely through the guide.

The contact-surface of my improved guide \viththe carbon being reduced to a minimum and a space being left between the body of the guide and the carbon the free and straight feed of the carbon will be effected, and there will be no liability of the carbon becoming wedged in the guide on account of accumm lation of carbon dust or ashes between the inner face of the guide and the carbon, as is liable to occur where an annular guideadapted to surround the carbon comparatively closely is employed.

As above mentioned, much diflicultyhas been experienced with carbon-guides by molten copper from the carbon coating falling thereon and resulting in affecting the free passage of the carbon through the guide and often in effect soldering or cementing the guide to the carbon. In some cases the molten copper will collect on the guide and act to accumulate carbon dust or ash, which will become wedged between the guide and carbon, so as to affect the free movement of the latter or absolutely prevent it from feeding. By making the guide of iron or steel the hot particles from the carbon are not very liable to adhere to it; but in order to effectually prevent any possibility of the soldering or cementing effect of molten copper from the carbon coating I propose to oxidize or rust the surface of my improved guide.

in Figs. 3 and i dilferent forms of teeth, made separate from and secured to the body of the guide, are shown. The body at of the guide shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be made of some other material than iron or steel, if desired. The teeth may be of iron or steel and may be made triangular, as shown at e, orin the form of pins f, or the separate teeth may be made of lava in the form shown at g, Figs. 3 and 1-.

Numerous other changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details herein setforth; but,

Having f uliy described myinvention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. The combination with a lamp-arm having a pin or projection thereon, of a earbonguide constructed with a body portion adapted to permit the unobstructed passage of the carbon and terminating at one end in an arm adapted to engage the pin or projection on the lamp-arm, an upwardly and inwardly projecting finger projecting from said body portion so as to engage the carbon, substantially as set forth.

The combination with a lamp-arm having a pin or projection thereon, of a carbonguide comprising an expansible body portion provided at one of its ends with an arm adapted to engage'the pin or projection on the lam parm and lingers projecting upwardly and inwardly from said body portion, said fingers having pointed free ends to engage the carbon passing through said guide, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS EDGAR ADAMS.

Witnesses:

1. M. SMIT, EDWARD Ann. 

